Friday, September 9, 2011

Kidnapped Israeli Soldier Gilad Shalit Named as an Honorary Citizen of the City of San Francisco

Supervisor Scott Wiener (District 8) will hold a ceremony at City Hall naming Gilad Shalit an Honorary Citizen of the City of San Francisco. San Francisco joins other world-renowned cities – including Paris, Rome, Miami and New Orleans - in awarding honorary citizenship to Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier who was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in 2006 and been held in captivity ever since.

The ceremony will be held on Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 10:30am on the front steps of the City Hall (Polk St.), San Francisco

While his whereabouts have been unknown since he was kidnapped by terrorists who launched a cross-border raid from the Gaza Strip into Israel on June 25, 2006, Shalit is thought to be alive. He has been denied any access to the outside world – including to his family and humanitarian organizations seeking to verify his status and living conditions. Despite numerous efforts by Israel and the international community to secure his release from captivity, Gilad Shalit has remained held prisoner by Hamas for over five years.